Tuesday, June 3, 2025 red wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly Tempranillo from Rioja that arrived at the LCBO a few weeks ago in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection - with plenty of bottles still available for purchase across Ontario.
It is produced by Bodegas Izadi, a relatively new winery that was established in 1987 by Gonzalo Antón and a group of friends and business people from nearby Vitoria. The groundbreaking project was developed deep in the Rioja Alavesa wine region, on the northern bank of the River Ebro, known for its poor soils.
Gonzalo chose the village of Villabuena de Alava, at the western end of Rioja Alavesa, where his family was already growing grapes, as the location of Bodegas Izadi, where the focus would be on making fine wine. Gonzalo's knowledge of hotels and restaurants soon made Izadi one of the most highly-regarded wines in gastronomic circles. Furthermore, Izadi introduced new winemaking techniques and made continuous improvements in quality over time, which helped develop their house style of wines.
In 2000, Lalo Antón, Gonzalo's son, joined the company and quickly helped it expand and grow, while also increasing its exports. Under Lalo's leadership, the Antón family acquired several other notable bodegas across Spain. Today, all four wineries are under the family's umbrella company - Artevino Group.
The family's commitment to quality, bond with gastronomy, and love of the land are the cornerstones of Bodegas Izadi. Their core values are encapsulated in the words: Sensitivity, Hospitality, Respect, and Curiosity. Sensitivity refers to their attention to detail in all areas of the business, from the vineyard to the point where the bottle is opened by the consumer. Hospitality is the starting point and the driving force behind their growth as they are restaurateurs at heart. The name "Izadi" means "Nature" in Basque, and reflects the family's commitment to sustainability and nature. They take care of their natural surroundings and ask their customers to do the same. Izadi practices integrated and sustainable farming, as well as being socially and environmentally responsible. Curiosity drives Izadi to new horizons, encourages them to grow, constantly improve, and do things differently.
This red wine is crafted with 100% Tempranillo that was grown in vineyards spanning 178 hectares, 70 hectares of which it owns, from vines planted before 1970 and averaging 45 years of age. Trained using the Goblet system, these vineyards are located within a triangle formed by three villages - Villabuena, Samaniego, and Abalo. The soil in these sloped vineyards is composed of clay-chalk, with a northeast-to-south aspect, and situated between 450–550 metres above sea level. Situated in northern Spain, the climate is influenced by both the Atlantic Ocean to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. The vineyards are managed using integrated viticulture practices, while the soil is cultivated using traditional techniques. After manually harvesting the grapes, they were destemmed, gently pressed, and underwent alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 16 months in 73% American oak and 27% French oak, with only 20% new oak and the rest no more than 4 years old. It was filtered and clarified prior to bottling.
In 2020, the growing season in Rioja featured rainfall and early budding, which resulted in an early and uneven harvest. Some areas were also severely hit with hail and mildew, which contributed to a drop in yields. It was a mixed bag of a vintage with some producers devastated by losses. However, those that were lucky enough to avoid the inclement weather conditions and harvested after the rain benefited from the subsequent northern winds; these producers were enthusiastic about the results and produced balanced wines with moderate alcohol, good acidity, and deep colour. With strict selections on the sorting table, it is considered a "Very Good" vintage. Let's see how this 2020 Tempranillo from Rioja is tasting tonight...
100% Tempranillo. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose has rich sandalwood, oak spice, nut, and savoury earth aromas surrounding a core of ripe red cherry, florals, currant, and red plum mingling with dried cherry and rose petals. The medium-full bodied palate is dry and spicy with oak spice, sandalwood, nut, red cherry, currant, red plum, and savoury earth flavours, plus touches of rose floral. Hints of orange on the mid-palate adds further complexity and interest. It has fresh acidity, along with somewhat grippy and chalky textured tannins, with good structure. The finish is long, savoury, and earthy. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
Izadi's rose is coming to the LCBO this weekend, while the full range of their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.
It is produced by Bodegas Izadi, a relatively new winery that was established in 1987 by Gonzalo Antón and a group of friends and business people from nearby Vitoria. The groundbreaking project was developed deep in the Rioja Alavesa wine region, on the northern bank of the River Ebro, known for its poor soils.
Gonzalo chose the village of Villabuena de Alava, at the western end of Rioja Alavesa, where his family was already growing grapes, as the location of Bodegas Izadi, where the focus would be on making fine wine. Gonzalo's knowledge of hotels and restaurants soon made Izadi one of the most highly-regarded wines in gastronomic circles. Furthermore, Izadi introduced new winemaking techniques and made continuous improvements in quality over time, which helped develop their house style of wines.
In 2000, Lalo Antón, Gonzalo's son, joined the company and quickly helped it expand and grow, while also increasing its exports. Under Lalo's leadership, the Antón family acquired several other notable bodegas across Spain. Today, all four wineries are under the family's umbrella company - Artevino Group.
The family's commitment to quality, bond with gastronomy, and love of the land are the cornerstones of Bodegas Izadi. Their core values are encapsulated in the words: Sensitivity, Hospitality, Respect, and Curiosity. Sensitivity refers to their attention to detail in all areas of the business, from the vineyard to the point where the bottle is opened by the consumer. Hospitality is the starting point and the driving force behind their growth as they are restaurateurs at heart. The name "Izadi" means "Nature" in Basque, and reflects the family's commitment to sustainability and nature. They take care of their natural surroundings and ask their customers to do the same. Izadi practices integrated and sustainable farming, as well as being socially and environmentally responsible. Curiosity drives Izadi to new horizons, encourages them to grow, constantly improve, and do things differently.
This red wine is crafted with 100% Tempranillo that was grown in vineyards spanning 178 hectares, 70 hectares of which it owns, from vines planted before 1970 and averaging 45 years of age. Trained using the Goblet system, these vineyards are located within a triangle formed by three villages - Villabuena, Samaniego, and Abalo. The soil in these sloped vineyards is composed of clay-chalk, with a northeast-to-south aspect, and situated between 450–550 metres above sea level. Situated in northern Spain, the climate is influenced by both the Atlantic Ocean to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. The vineyards are managed using integrated viticulture practices, while the soil is cultivated using traditional techniques. After manually harvesting the grapes, they were destemmed, gently pressed, and underwent alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 16 months in 73% American oak and 27% French oak, with only 20% new oak and the rest no more than 4 years old. It was filtered and clarified prior to bottling.
In 2020, the growing season in Rioja featured rainfall and early budding, which resulted in an early and uneven harvest. Some areas were also severely hit with hail and mildew, which contributed to a drop in yields. It was a mixed bag of a vintage with some producers devastated by losses. However, those that were lucky enough to avoid the inclement weather conditions and harvested after the rain benefited from the subsequent northern winds; these producers were enthusiastic about the results and produced balanced wines with moderate alcohol, good acidity, and deep colour. With strict selections on the sorting table, it is considered a "Very Good" vintage. Let's see how this 2020 Tempranillo from Rioja is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
IZADI RESERVA 2020 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#461269) (XD) - $23.95100% Tempranillo. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose has rich sandalwood, oak spice, nut, and savoury earth aromas surrounding a core of ripe red cherry, florals, currant, and red plum mingling with dried cherry and rose petals. The medium-full bodied palate is dry and spicy with oak spice, sandalwood, nut, red cherry, currant, red plum, and savoury earth flavours, plus touches of rose floral. Hints of orange on the mid-palate adds further complexity and interest. It has fresh acidity, along with somewhat grippy and chalky textured tannins, with good structure. The finish is long, savoury, and earthy. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
Izadi's rose is coming to the LCBO this weekend, while the full range of their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.
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